GOVERNMENT FUNDING
In 2007-08, government funding for cultural activities totalled $6,311.4m, with state and territory governments providing almost half (47% or $2,952.2m), the Australian Government contributing 37% ($2,358.9m), and local government making up the balance of 16% ($1,000.3m).
Operational expenditure accounted for 88% of cultural funding by all levels of government in 2007-08, while funding for capital expenditure accounted for the remaining 12%.
Apart from direct funding, the Australian Government also provides assistance through tax concessions such as the Cultural Gifts Program, which offers tax deductions to encourage the donation of items of cultural significance to public art galleries, museums and libraries. According to the 2007-08 Annual Report of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), 617 donations were made to the program in that year with a total value of $43.2m.
In 2007-08, the majority (76% or $1,788.2m) of Australian Government cultural funding supported Arts activities. Radio and television services were the main beneficiaries, receiving over three quarters of the total Arts activities funding provided by the Australian Government (76% or $1,352.7m).
In contrast, state and territory governments directed the majority (77% or $2,266.3m) of their funding to Heritage activities in 2007-08. Environmental heritage was the largest recipient in 2007-08, receiving $1,345.4m, almost half (46%) of the total state and territory government funding for cultural activities.
4.1 Cultural Funding By level of government - 2007-08 |
|
| | | Value of funding | Percentage of total |
| | | $m | % |
|
Australian Government(a) | | |
| Heritage | | |
| | Art museums | 58.2 | 0.9 |
| | Other museums and cultural heritage | 232.3 | 3.7 |
| | Environmental heritage | 121.0 | 1.9 |
| | Libraries | 65.4 | 1.0 |
| | Archives | 93.8 | 1.5 |
| | Total heritage | 570.7 | 9.0 |
| Arts | | |
| | Literature and print media | 27.2 | 0.4 |
| | Music performance | 35.3 | 0.6 |
| | Drama | 31.9 | 0.5 |
| | Dance | 36.8 | 0.6 |
| | Music theatre and opera | 8.7 | 0.1 |
| | Other performing arts | 8.4 | 0.1 |
| | Performing arts venues | - | - |
| | Music composition and publishing | 1.8 | - |
| | Visual arts and crafts | 32.5 | 0.5 |
| | Design | 0.1 | - |
| | Radio and television services | 1 352.7 | 21.4 |
| | Film and video production and distribution | 115.5 | 1.8 |
| | Multimedia | 3.7 | 0.1 |
| | Other arts | 133.5 | 2.1 |
| | Total arts | 1 788.2 | 28.3 |
| Total Australian Government | 2 358.9 | 37.4 |
State and territory government | | |
| Heritage | | |
| | Art museums | 178.2 | 2.8 |
| | Other museums and cultural heritage | 365.0 | 5.8 |
| | Environmental heritage | 1 345.4 | 21.3 |
| | Libraries | 317.6 | 5.0 |
| | Archives | 60.1 | 1.0 |
| | Total heritage | 2 266.3 | 35.9 |
| Arts | | |
| | Literature and print media | 8.2 | 0.1 |
| | Music performance | 103.1 | 1.6 |
| | Drama | 23.3 | 0.4 |
| | Dance | 14.4 | 0.2 |
| | Music theatre and opera | 16.8 | 0.3 |
| | Other performing arts | 35.1 | 0.6 |
| | Performing arts venues | 235.2 | 3.7 |
| | Music composition and publishing | 1.1 | - |
| | Visual arts and crafts | 28.2 | 0.4 |
| | Design | 3.4 | 0.1 |
| | Radio and television services | 2.3 | - |
| | Film and video production and distribution | 91.8 | 1.5 |
| | Multimedia | 6.3 | 0.1 |
| | Other arts | 116.8 | 1.9 |
| | Total arts | 685.8 | 10.9 |
| Total state and territory government | 2 952.2 | 46.8 |
Local government | | |
| Art museums | 51.0 | 0.8 |
| Other museums and cultural heritage | 33.1 | 0.5 |
| Libraries | 653.4 | 10.4 |
| Performing arts | 38.1 | 0.6 |
| Cultural or arts services n.e.c. | 224.8 | 3.6 |
| Total local government | 1 000.3 | 15.8 |
Total | 6 311.4 | 100.0 |
|
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
(a) The Australian Government refers to the federal government. It does not refer to the aggregate of state and territory governments, nor does it include local government. |
Source: Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2007-08 (cat. no. 4183.0). |